CN113453308A

CN113453308A - Information processing apparatus, control method, and computer-readable storage medium

Info

Publication number: CN113453308A
Application number: CN202110274511.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 须崎辽
Original assignee: Canon Inc
Current assignee: Canon Inc
Priority date: 2020-03-24
Filing date: 2021-03-15
Publication date: 2021-09-28
Anticipated expiration: 2041-03-15
Also published as: EP3885890A1; US20230247406A1; JP2021153265A; US11647372B2; US20210306943A1

Abstract

The invention discloses an information processing apparatus, a control method, and a computer-readable storage medium. The information processing apparatus includes: an instruction unit configured to execute, on an operating system, an instruction for connecting the information processing apparatus with a communication apparatus in which a predetermined access point having identification information including both the specific character string and a character string other than the specific character string is enabled, by notifying the specific character string to the operating system; and a communication unit configured to, when a connection is established between the information processing apparatus and a communication apparatus that enables a predetermined access point, transfer information about another access point different from the predetermined access point via the connection between the information processing apparatus and the communication apparatus that enables the predetermined access point.

Description

Information processing apparatus, control method, and computer-readable storage medium

Technical Field

The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus, a control method, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program for connecting communication between apparatuses.

Background

There is known a technique in which an information processing apparatus such as a smartphone establishes a connection with a communication apparatus such as a printer and transfers information about an access point via the connection.

Japanese patent laid-open No. 2016-127545 discloses that after a connection is established with a communication apparatus by using the SSID of the communication apparatus, information about an access point is transferred and connection mode setting of the communication apparatus is performed.

With the spread of technologies for establishing a connection between an information processing apparatus and a communication apparatus and transferring information about an access point via the connection, there is a need to improve the convenience of establishing a connection between an information processing apparatus and a communication apparatus.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention provides an information processing apparatus, a control method, and a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program, which improve convenience in establishing a connection between the information processing apparatus and a communication apparatus.

The present invention provides, in a first aspect, an information processing apparatus including a predetermined program and an Operating System (OS) different from the predetermined program, the information processing apparatus comprising: an instruction unit configured to execute, on the OS, an instruction for connecting the information processing apparatus with a communication apparatus in which a predetermined access point having identification information including both the specific character string and a character string other than the specific character string is enabled, by notifying the operating system of the specific character string; and a communication unit configured to, when a connection is established between the information processing apparatus and a communication apparatus that enables a predetermined access point, transfer information about another access point different from the predetermined access point via a connection between the information processing apparatus and the communication apparatus that enables the predetermined access point.

The present invention in a second aspect provides a control method of an information processing apparatus including a predetermined program and an Operating System (OS) different from the predetermined program, the control method comprising: executing, on the OS, an instruction for connecting the information processing apparatus with a communication apparatus that enables a predetermined access point having identification information including both the specific character string and a character string other than the specific character string, by notifying the operating system of the specific character string; and in a case where a connection is established between the information processing apparatus and a communication apparatus that enables a predetermined access point, transferring information on another access point different from the predetermined access point via a connection between the information processing apparatus and the communication apparatus that enables the predetermined access point.

The present invention provides, in a third aspect, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program that causes a computer of an information processing apparatus having an Operating System (OS) to execute, on the OS, an instruction for connecting the information processing apparatus with a communication apparatus that enables a predetermined access point having identification information including both a specific character string and a character string other than the specific character string, by notifying the operating system of the specific character string; and in a case where a connection is established between the information processing apparatus and a communication apparatus that enables a predetermined access point, transferring information on another access point different from the predetermined access point via a connection between the information processing apparatus and the communication apparatus that enables the predetermined access point.

According to the present invention, convenience in establishing a connection between an information processing apparatus and a communication apparatus can be improved.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 shows a block diagram of a system arrangement including an information processing apparatus and a communication apparatus;

fig. 2 shows a sequence diagram of processing performed by each device in the connection setting processing;

fig. 3 shows a sequence diagram of processing performed by an application and an embedded OS;

fig. 4 shows a flowchart of a communication control process of the connection setting application; and

fig. 5 shows a sequence diagram of processing performed by the application and the embedded OS.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Note that the following examples are not intended to limit the scope of the claims of the present invention. Although a plurality of features are described in the embodiments, the invention which requires all of such features is not limited, and a plurality of such features may be combined as appropriate. Further, in the drawings, the same or similar configurations are given the same reference numerals, and redundant description thereof is omitted.

[ first embodiment ]

The information processing apparatus and the communication apparatus included in the communication system according to the present embodiment will be described below. Although a smartphone is exemplified as the information processing device in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various devices such as a portable terminal, a notebook computer, a tablet terminal, a PDA (personal digital assistant), a digital camera, and the like may be used. In addition, although the printer is exemplified as the communication apparatus in the present embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this, and various apparatuses may be used as long as the apparatus is an apparatus that can wirelessly communicate with the information processing apparatus. For example, in the case of a printer, an ink jet printer, a full-color laser beam printer, a monochrome printer, or the like can be used. Further, the communication device need not be a printer alone, but may be a copier, a facsimile apparatus, a portable terminal, a smart phone, a notebook computer, a tablet terminal, a PDA, a digital camera, a music playback apparatus, a television, a smart speaker, or the like. In addition to these devices, the present invention is also applicable to a multifunction peripheral including a plurality of functions such as a copy function, a facsimile function, a print function, and the like.

First, the arrangement of a system including an information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment and a communication apparatus capable of communicating with the information processing apparatus will be described with reference to fig. 1. Although the following arrangement will be exemplified in the present embodiment, the present embodiment is applicable to a device capable of communicating with a communication device and is not limited to the arrangement described in fig. 1.

The terminal apparatus 101 is an information processing apparatus according to the present embodiment. The terminal apparatus 101 includes an input interface 102, a CPU 103, a ROM 104, a RAM 105, an external storage device 106, an output interface 107, a display unit 108, a communication unit 109, a short-range communication unit 110, and an image pickup device 111. In the present embodiment, the terminal apparatus 101 will be exemplified by a smartphone.

The input interface 102 is an interface for accepting data input and operation instructions from a user, and is formed of a physical keyboard, buttons, a touch panel, and the like. Note that it may be arranged so that the output interface 107 (described later) and the input interface 102 have the same arrangement and the same arrangement will be used for performing output from the screen and accepting an operation from the user.

The CPU 103 is a system control unit and generally controls the entire terminal apparatus 101. The ROM 104 stores permanent data such as a control program and a data table executed by the CPU 103, an embedded operating system (hereinafter referred to as OS) program, and the like. In the present embodiment, each control program stored in the ROM 104 will perform software execution control such as scheduling, task switching, interrupt processing, and the like under the management of the embedded OS stored in the ROM 104.

The RAM 105 is formed of an SRAM (static random access memory) which requires a backup power supply. Note that since the RAM 105 holds data by a primary battery (not shown) for data backup, important data such as program control variables and the like can be stored without being volatile. A storage area for storing setting information of the terminal apparatus 101, management data of the terminal apparatus 101, and the like is also provided in the RAM 105. In addition, the RAM 105 is also used as a main memory and a work memory of the CPU 103.

The external storage device 106 includes a connection setting application (hereinafter referred to as a connection setting app) that provides a connection setting function. The external storage device 106 includes various programs such as a print information generation program that generates print information that can be interpreted by the communication apparatus 151, an information exchange control program for exchanging information with the communication apparatus 151 connected to the information processing apparatus via the communication unit 109, and the like. Further, the external storage device 106 also stores various information used by these programs and image data obtained via other information processing apparatuses and the internet.

The output interface 107 is an interface that controls the display unit 108 to display data and performs status notification of the terminal apparatus 101.

The display unit 108 is formed of an LED (light emitting diode), an LCD (liquid crystal panel), or the like, and displays data and performs state notification of the terminal apparatus 101. Note that it may be arranged so that an input from the user can be accepted via the display unit 108 by providing a virtual keyboard including keys such as a numeric value input key, a mode setting key, an enter key, a cancel key, a power key, and the like on the display unit 108.

The communication unit 109 performs data communication by connecting with a device such as the communication device 151. For example, the communication unit 109 can directly communicate with the communication apparatus 151 through wireless communication or can communicate with the communication apparatus 151 via an external access point (access point 131 (hereinafter referred to as AP 131)) existing outside the communication apparatus 151 and the terminal apparatus 101. The access point is a device that constructs a network, and is a device that determines a communication channel to be used in communication performed in the constructed network. Although the present embodiment assumes Wi-Fi (Wireless)

) A wireless communication method is used as the communication unit 109, but Bluetooth may also be used

And the like. In addition, for example, a device such as a wireless LAN router or the like is used as the AP 131. Note that, in the present embodiment, a method in which the terminal apparatus 101 and the communication apparatus 151 are directly connected to each other without intervention of an external access point is referred to as a direct connection method. Further, a method in which the terminal apparatus 101 and the communication apparatus 151 are connected to each other via an external access point is referred to as an infrastructure connection method.

The short-range communication unit 110 is an arrangement for performing data communication by setting a short-range wireless connection with a device such as the communication device 151 or the like, and performs communication by a communication method different from that of the communication unit 109. The short range communication unit 110 may be connected with a short range communication unit 157 included in the communication device 151. Note that Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Classic Bluetooth (Bluetooth class), Wi-Fi Aware (Wi-Fi Aware), or the like may be used as the communication method of short-range communication unit 110.

The image pickup apparatus 111 is a device that converts an image picked up by the image pickup element into digital data. The digital data is temporarily stored in the RAM 105. Subsequently, the digital data is converted into data of a predetermined image format by a program executed by the CPU 103, and the converted data is stored as image data in the external storage device 106.

The communication device 151 is a communication device according to the present embodiment. The communication device 151 includes a ROM 152, a RAM 153, a CPU 154, a print engine 155, a communication unit 156, a short-range communication unit 157, an input interface 158, an output interface 159, a function control unit 160, and a display unit 161.

The communication unit 156 performs data communication by connecting with a device such as the terminal device 101. Although Wi-Fi is used as the wireless communication method of the communication unit 156 in the present embodiment, a method such as classical bluetooth may also be used. Note that the communication unit 156 includes an access point 156a for connecting with a device such as the terminal device 101 as an access point in the communication device 151. Note that the access point 156a may be connected with the communication unit 109 of the terminal apparatus 101. Note that the communication unit 156 may communicate with the terminal apparatus 101 directly via the access point 156a or with the terminal apparatus 101 via the AP 131. The access point 156a may also be hardware that functions as an access point or the communication unit 156 may operate as an access point 156a by using software that allows the communication unit to function as an access point. The access point in the communication device 151 may be formed of a plurality of access points having different identification information such as SSID (service set identifier) and password. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that an access point in the communication apparatus 151 includes a connection setting AP (described later).

The RAM 153 is formed of an SRAM or the like, which requires a backup power supply. Note that since the RAM 153 holds data by being supplied with power from a primary battery (not shown) for data backup, important data such as program control variables and the like can be stored without being volatile. Further, the RAM 153 is also used as a main memory and a working memory of the CPU 154. The RAM 153 can also temporarily store print information received from the terminal apparatus 101 or the like and store various information as a reception buffer, for example.

The ROM 152 stores permanent data such as control programs and data tables executed by the CPU 154, OS programs, and the like. In the present embodiment, each control program stored in the ROM 152 will perform software execution control such as scheduling, task switching, interrupt processing, and the like under the management of the embedded OS stored in the ROM 152. In addition, a storage area for storing data to be saved even if power is not supplied, such as setting information of the communication device 151, management data of the communication device 151, and the like, is also provided in the ROM 152.

The CPU 154 is a system control unit and generally controls the entire communication device 151. The print engine 155 outputs a print result by forming an image on a print medium such as a print sheet using a printing agent such as ink based on information stored in the RAM 153 or a print job received from the terminal apparatus 101 or the like. At this time, since the transmission data amount of the print job transmitted from the terminal apparatus 101 or the like is large and high-speed communication is required, it may be arranged such that the print job is received via the communication unit 156, the communication unit 156 being capable of communicating at a higher speed than the short-range communication unit 157.

The short-range communication unit 157 is configured to make a short-range wireless connection with an apparatus such as the terminal apparatus 101. Note that Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), classic bluetooth, Wi-Fi perception, or the like may be used as a communication method of the short-range communication unit 157.

The input interface 158 is an interface for accepting data input and operation instructions from a user, and is formed of a physical keyboard, buttons, a touch panel, and the like. Note that it may be arranged so that the output interface 159 (described later) and the input interface 158 have the same arrangement and the same arrangement will be used for performing output from the screen and accepting an operation from the user. The output interface 159 is an interface that controls the display unit 161 to display data, performs status notification of the communication device 151, and displays information. The function control unit 160 performs management regarding function operation control, such as determining whether to simultaneously operate the functions of the communication device 151 or not.

The display unit 161 is formed of an LED (light emitting diode), an LCD (liquid crystal panel), or the like, and displays data and performs status notification of the communication device 151. Note that it may be arranged such that an input from the user can be accepted via the display unit 161 by providing a virtual keyboard including keys such as a numeric value input key, a mode setting key, an input key, a cancel key, a power key, and the like on the display unit 161.

< Wi-Fi communication (P2P (Peer-to-Peer) mode) >

The communication device 151 according to the present embodiment operates in a P2P mode (software AP mode or Wi-Fi Direct (WFD)) mode) to establish a connection (hereinafter referred to as a P2P connection) by a P2P method in a Wi-Fi communication operation. Note that, in the present embodiment, the P2P connection refers to a wireless connection mode in which devices are directly connected to each other without intervention of an external device such as the AP 131. When operating in P2P mode, communications apparatus 151 operates as a master in the network to which communications apparatus 151 belongs. The P2P mode includes a WFD mode and a software AP mode, which will be described below.

Note that WFD is a standard defined by the Wi-Fi alliance. The terminal apparatus 101 and the communication apparatus 151, which are WFD supporting devices, can directly make wireless connection with each other using WFD without intervention of other access points. Specifically, a device that functions as a WFD supporting apparatus and plays a role of an access point (master) is referred to as a group owner. The mode in which P2P connection is executed by WFD is referred to as WFD mode.

The communication device 151 also has a software access point (software AP) operating as an access point. When the communication device 151 enables (activates) the software AP in the communication device 151, the terminal device 101 may connect with the software AP not through the WFD but through the normal Wi-Fi. By connecting in this manner, the terminal apparatus 101 and the communication apparatus 151 can make wireless connection directly with each other without intervention of other access points. A mode in which the P2P connection is performed by enabling the software AP in the communication apparatus 151 to operate is referred to as a software AP mode. Note that when the software AP mode is stopped, the software AP in communication device 151 will be disabled, and communication device 151 will be set to a state in which P2P connection with other devices cannot be made using the software AP.

Since communicator 151 will operate as a master in P2P mode, communicator 151 can determine which communication channel to use for communication in P2P mode. For example, if the infrastructure mode and the P2P mode operate in parallel, the communication device 151 will control to use the communication channel used in the communication of the infrastructure mode for the communication of the P2P mode. In addition, for example, the communication device 151 may preferentially select a communication channel used in connection with the AP 131 as a channel to be used in communication in the P2P mode over other channels.

In addition, the connection information (SSID or password) for connecting with the communication device 151 in the P2P mode can be arbitrarily changed by a user operation or the like on an operation unit included in the communication device 151.

< Wi-Fi communication (infrastructure mode) >

The communication apparatus 151 according to the present embodiment will operate in an infrastructure mode to establish a connection by an infrastructure method (hereinafter referred to as an infrastructure connection) in Wi-Fi communication. Note that in the present embodiment, infrastructure connection refers to a mode in which an external apparatus such as the AP 131 that normally controls a network operates as a master and a plurality of apparatuses are wirelessly connected to each other via the master. When operating in the infrastructure mode, communications apparatus 151 operates as a slave in the network to which communications apparatus 151 belongs.

The communication device 151 and the terminal device 101 are connected to each other via the AP 131 by the infrastructure mode, and communication between the communication device 151 and the terminal device 101 is possible via the AP 131. Note that here, the channel used in communication by the infrastructure mode is, for example, a channel of a frequency band other than the 2.4GHz band (5.0GHz band or the like).

Note that to communicate with the communication device 151 via the AP 131, the terminal device 101 needs to recognize that the communication device 151 belongs to the network formed by the AP 131 and to which the terminal device 101 belongs. Therefore, for example, the terminal apparatus 101 transmits a search signal via the AP 131 on the network to which the terminal apparatus 101 belongs, and confirms communication (connection) with the communication apparatus 151.

In the present embodiment, a state in which the terminal apparatus 101 and the communication apparatus 151 are connected only to the same AP is determined as an infrastructure connection state. That is, in the infrastructure connection state, the terminal apparatus 101 and the communication apparatus 151 only need to connect to the same AP, and it is not necessary to recognize that the counterpart apparatus belongs to the network to which the own apparatus belongs.

In the present embodiment, when information for setting command communication and P2P connection with the communication device 151 is obtained in the connection setting processing, P2P connection for connection setting between the terminal device 101 and the communication device 151 is used. A Wi-Fi connection (connection of the communication unit 109 and the communication unit 156) is used as the P2P connection for connection setting in the present embodiment. However, a BLE connection (connection of the short range communication unit 110 and the short range communication unit 157) may also be used as the P2P connection for connection setting.

Next, a connection setting process using Wi-Fi connection will be described. Note that a communication method other than Wi-Fi or BLE, such as, for example, classic bluetooth, may be used as the P2P connection for connection setting. After an infrastructure connection or a P2P connection is established between the terminal apparatus 101 and the communication apparatus 151 through Wi-Fi by the connection setting process, communication can be performed between the terminal apparatus 101 and the communication apparatus 151 via the established network connection. For example, the terminal apparatus 101 can transmit, to the communication apparatus 151, a print job that causes the communication apparatus 151 to execute printing or a scan job that causes the communication apparatus 151 to execute scanning via the established connection. More specifically, if the established connection is an infrastructure connection, the job will be transmitted via the external access point, and if the established connection is a P2P connection, the job will be transmitted via the internal access point of the communication apparatus 151.

< connection setting mode >

In the present embodiment, the communication device 151 can operate in a connection setting mode. The connection setting mode is a mode for making connection setting of the own device by performing setting command communication with the terminal device 101. Note that, in the present embodiment, the setting command includes an infrastructure setting command and a P2P setting command. The infrastructure setting command is a command for causing the communication apparatus 151 to perform a connection setting operation for establishing an infrastructure connection between the communication apparatus 151 and the terminal apparatus 101. On the other hand, the P2P connection is a command for causing the communication device 151 to perform a connection setting operation for establishing a P2P connection between the communication device 151 and the terminal device 101. The trigger for the communication device 151 to start operating in the connection setting mode may be, for example, the user pressing a connection setting mode button or initial activation (power on) of the communication device 151 after shipment. The connection setting mode button may be a hardware button provided in the communication apparatus 151, or may be a virtual button displayed on the display unit 161 by the communication apparatus 151.

At the beginning of operation in the connection setup mode, communication device 151 enables both Wi-Fi communication and BLE communication. For example, the communication device 151 enables an AP (connection setting AP) dedicated to a connection setting mode included in the communication device 151 as a process of enabling Wi-Fi communication. Accordingly, the communication device 151 is set to a state allowing the P2P connection to be established with the terminal device 101 through Wi-Fi. Connection information (SSID and password) for connecting with the connection setting AP is stored in advance in the connection setting app installed in the terminal apparatus 101. Therefore, the terminal apparatus 101 recognizes the connection information for connecting to the connection setup AP in advance. In the present embodiment, the user cannot arbitrarily change the connection information for connecting with the connection setting AP, contrary to the connection information of the AP enabled by the P2P mode. By connecting with the communication device 151 operating in the connection setting mode, the terminal apparatus 101 can perform setting command communication with the communication device 151. Note that in the connection setting mode, the communication device 151 can connect with the terminal device 101 by using Wi-Fi direct (WFD) instead of using ordinary Wi-Fi. That is, the communication device 151 may operate as a group owner, and receive a setting command from the terminal device 101 through WFD communication.

Communication device 151 also begins transmitting advertisement information as a process to enable BLE communication. Therefore, the communication device 151 becomes a state capable of establishing connection with the terminal device 101 through BLE. Note that, in the present embodiment, the communication device 151 is set to a state in which a BLE pairing request can be received a predetermined period after enabling BLE communication. When the communication device 151 receives a BLE pairing request during a predetermined time, it pairs with a device of a pairing request transmission source to establish a BLE connection. Communication device 151 may disable BLE communication if a BLE pairing request is not received during a predetermined period of time.

After enabling both Wi-Fi communication and BLE communication by the connection setup mode, the communication device 151 receives a setup command via these communication methods, and performs processing corresponding to each received setup command.

< connection setting processing Using Wi-Fi >

Fig. 2 shows a sequence diagram of processing performed by each device in connection setting processing using Wi-Fi. The respective processes of fig. 2 are realized in each device by causing the CPU to read out a program stored in the memory to the RAM and execute the program.

In S201, the terminal apparatus 101 and the AP 131 connect via Wi-Fi. In S202, the communication device 151 starts operating in the connection setting mode. The connection setting mode is a mode for executing connection setting processing in the communication device 151.

At the start of operation in the connection setting mode, communication apparatus 151 enables an AP (connection setting AP) dedicated to the connection setting mode included in communication apparatus 151. Accordingly, the communication device 151 is set to a state allowing the P2P connection to be established with the terminal device 101 through Wi-Fi. The connection information (SSID and password) for connecting with the connection setting AP is held in advance by the connection setting app installed in the terminal apparatus 101, and the connection information for connecting with the connection setting AP is recognized in advance by the terminal apparatus 101. In the present embodiment, the user cannot arbitrarily change the connection information for connecting with the connection setting AP, contrary to the connection information of the AP enabled by the P2P mode.

Note that, at the start of operating in the connection setup mode, communication device 151 also enables the BLE function and starts transmitting advertisement information. Therefore, the communication device 151 will become a state that allows connection to be established with the terminal device 101 through BLE.

In S203, the terminal apparatus 101 accepts a connection setting processing execution instruction from the user via the user interface screen displayed on the display unit 108 by the connection setting app. In S204, the terminal apparatus 101 stores information on the AP (for example, AP 131) connected at the time of accepting the connection setting processing execution instruction in the memory. Hereinafter, it is assumed that the AP connected to the terminal apparatus 101 at the time of receiving the connection setting processing execution instruction is the AP 131. The information on the AP 131 is, for example, connection information (SSID and password) for connecting with the AP 131 and information on a frequency and a channel for connecting with the AP 131.

In S205, the terminal apparatus 101 disconnects Wi-Fi connection with the AP 131. In S206, the terminal apparatus 101 uses the connection information for connecting with the connection setting app recognized in advance, and establishes a Wi-Fi connection with the connection setting app in the communication apparatus 151. Accordingly, the terminal apparatus 101 temporarily establishes a P2P connection with the communication apparatus 151 through Wi-Fi.

In S207, the terminal apparatus 101 transmits a start command of the connection setting process to the communication apparatus 151 via the Wi-Fi connection. Note that since an AP list (described later) will be received after the start command of the connection setting process is transmitted, the start command of the connection setting process plays the role of an AP list request command in the present embodiment.

In S208, the communication device 151 searches for an access point to which the own device can connect through Wi-Fi. Subsequently, the communication device 151 transmits an access point list (AP list) to which the own device can connect through Wi-Fi as a search result to the terminal device 101 via Wi-Fi connection. That is, the terminal apparatus 101 obtains the AP list via the Wi-Fi connection. Note that the access point search timing is not limited to this timing, but may be, for example, a timing immediately after the start of an operation by the connection setting mode or the like.

In S209, the terminal apparatus 101 transmits an infrastructure setting command to the communication apparatus 151 via the Wi-Fi connection. The infrastructure setup command includes connection information for connecting with an access point to be connected with the communication device 151. For example, if the AP 131 stored in the memory in S204 is included in the AP list, the access point to be connected with the communication apparatus 151 is the AP 131 stored in the memory in S204. Further, for example, if the AP 131 stored in the memory in S204 is not included in the AP list, the access point to be connected with the communication apparatus 151 will be an access point selected by the user from the AP list. Here, it is assumed that the access point to be connected to the communication apparatus 151 is the AP 131 stored in the memory in S204. Note that at this time, the terminal apparatus 101 may accept user input regarding additional connection information (such as a password or the like) for connecting with the AP 131, add the additional connection information to the connection information, and transmit the combined connection information as an infrastructure setting command to the communication apparatus 151.

In S210, the terminal apparatus 101 disconnects P2P with the communication apparatus 151 through Wi-Fi. In S211, the terminal apparatus 101 uses the connection information for connecting with the AP 131 stored in the memory in S204 and reconnects with the AP 131 through Wi-Fi.

In S212, the communication device 151 uses the connection information for connecting with the AP 131 received in S209 based on the infrastructure setting command received in S209, and connects with the AP 131 through Wi-Fi. Accordingly, the communication apparatus 151 starts operating in the infrastructure mode, and an infrastructure connection via the AP 131 is established between the terminal apparatus 101 and the communication apparatus 151.

Note that although the mode in which the infrastructure setting command is transmitted in S209 is described above, the present invention is not limited to this mode. For example, a P2P setup command may be transmitted. In this case, the communication device 151 that has received the P2P setting command transmits connection information for connecting with the communication device 151 operating in the P2P mode to the terminal device 101. The connection information includes, for example, an SSID of an access point that is enabled when the communication apparatus 151 operates in the P2P mode and a password for connecting with the access point. Note that the access points enabled by communications device 151 when operating in P2P mode are different from the access points enabled by communications device 151 when operating in the connection setup mode. That is, it is assumed that the SSID of the access point that is enabled when the communication device 151 operates in the P2P mode is different from the SSID of the access point that is enabled when the communication device 151 operates in the connection setup mode. Subsequently, the communication device 151 begins operating in P2P mode and enables the corresponding access point. Subsequently, the terminal apparatus 101 connects with the communication apparatus 151 operating in the P2P mode using the received connection information.

< Process of searching for communication apparatus 151 operating in connection setup mode >

As described above, in the present embodiment, the terminal apparatus 101 is connected with the communication apparatus 151 operating in the connection setting mode. Therefore, the terminal apparatus 101 needs to search for the communication apparatus 151 operating in the connection setting mode. A process (search process) for searching for the communication apparatus 151 operating in the connection setting mode will be described here.

For example, some embedded operating systems such as iOS do not provide the application on the terminal apparatus 101 with a list of access points discovered by a search performed by the embedded OS. Therefore, conventionally, setting apps corresponding to the embedded OS are activated respectively to select a device to be a connection setting processing target through the connection setting apps. The user needs to select an access point included in the device to be a target of the connection setting processing on the setting app and connect the selected access point with the terminal device 101. Subsequently, the connection setting app is again made to operate in the foreground, and a device including an access point that has been connected to the terminal device 101 is selected as a device to be a connection setting processing target by the connection setting app. The problem with this mode is that it requires cumbersome operations by the user.

The following modes may be considered to reduce such troublesome operations. For example, all devices to be targeted for connection setting processing by the connection setting app are arranged in a mode including an access point having the same SSID. This mode is a mode in which the connection setting app stores the same SSID in advance and instructs the OS to establish a connection between the terminal device 101 and each access point having the same SSID.

However, this mode requires that all devices to be connection setting processing targets through the connection setting app include an access point having the same SSID, and thus may bring about a problem of reducing security related to connection of each device.

The present embodiment will describe a mode for solving such problems. More specifically, in the present embodiment, each device to be a connection setting processing target by the connection setting app is arranged to include an access point having an SSID including a character string common to the devices and a character string unique to each device. The connection setting app stores a character string common to the devices in the connection setting app in advance. That is, the connection setting app does not need to accept common string input from the user. The connection setup app will instruct the OS to search for an access point having an SSID that includes at least the common string. The connection setup app will then instruct the OS to establish a connection between the discovered access point and the terminal device 101. By setting this mode, it is possible to execute extremely convenient connection setting operation without requiring a user to perform cumbersome operation while suppressing a reduction in security relating to connection of each device to be a connection setting processing target.

Fig. 3 shows a sequence diagram of processing performed by the connection setting app installed in the terminal apparatus 101 and the embedded OS stored in the ROM 104 in the processing for searching the communication apparatus 151 operating in the connection setting mode. Note that this processing is performed in a state where the connection setting app is operated in the foreground and a screen of the connection setting app is displayed on the display unit 108.

In S301, the embedded OS searches for an access point that can connect with the terminal apparatus 101. More specifically, the embedded OS searches for each access point that exists in the periphery of the terminal apparatus 101 and that is transmitting a beacon by receiving the beacon including the SSID and the like. The embedded OS stores a list of access points (AP list) found from the search in a memory. Note that the search for an access point can be appropriately performed at an arbitrary timing by the embedded OS.

In S302, the connection setting app issues a connection instruction indicating connection with the access point to the embedded OS. Note that two kinds of connection instructions may be issued to the embedded OS. The first connection instruction is an instruction to assign a given character string and to connect the terminal apparatus 101 with an access point having an SSID that exactly matches the assigned character string. In other words, an SSID that exactly matches an assignment string is an SSID that includes only the assignment string and does not include a string other than the assignment string. The second connection instruction is an instruction that is assigned to the assignment string and connects the terminal apparatus 101 with the access point having the SSID including at least the assignment string. In other words, the SSID that includes at least the assignment string is an SSID that includes both the assignment string and a string other than the assignment string. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the latter connection instruction will be executed in S302. It is assumed that a specific character string is assigned in the connect instruction. In the present embodiment, the specific character string is a character string included in the SSID of the internal access point enabled by the communication apparatus 151 operating in the connection setting mode. The specific character string is a character string generally included in the SSID of the access point of each device to be a connection setting processing target by the connection setting app. In other words, a character string other than a specific character string included in the SSID of the access point of each device to be a connection setting processing target by the connection setting app differs for each device. Note that which communication device 151 will enable which access point including the SSID when operating in the connection setup mode will be determined based on, for example, the vendor, model, device type, etc. of the communication device 151. For example, when operating in a connection setup mode, each device (e.g., printer) of a predetermined category provided by a vendor providing a connection setup app will enable an access point having an SSID that includes a character string common to the devices and a character string that is different for each device. In addition, at this time, the SSID assigning method is not limited to assignment based on the first character of the character string, but satisfies a method capable of assigning a part of the character string. For example, the assignment may be made by assigning a tail character of a character string, assigning a character string including wildcard characters, an assignment method using a regular expression (regular expression), or the like. Note that, if the second connection instruction has been accepted, the embedded OS may establish a connection between the terminal device 101 and an access point having an SSID that includes only the assignment string and does not include a string other than the assignment string. In the present embodiment, each device to be a connection setting processing target by the connection setting app will enable an access point having an SSID including both an assignment character string and a character string other than the assignment character string.

In S303, the embedded OS searches for an access point having an SSID including a specific character string assigned by the connection setting app from the AP list stored in the memory. If an access point having an SSID including a specific character string is found by the search, the embedded OS designates the found access point as a connection target access point, and the process proceeds to S304. Note that in some cases, there may be multiple access points in the AP list that have SSIDs that include a particular string assigned by the connection setting app. In this case, for example, one access point determined by the priority order may be designated as a connection target access point. In this case, the specific priority order may be determined based on an access point discovery order, frequency strength, and the like. In the present embodiment, if there are a plurality of access points in the AP list having SSIDs including a specific character string assigned by the connection setting app, an access point located at the top of the list among the corresponding access points will be specified. More specifically, the access point first found in the search by the embedded OS will be specified among the corresponding access points. On the other hand, if no access point having the SSID including the specific character string is found by the search, the embedded OS will notify the connection setting app of the failure to find an access point having the SSID including the specific character string, and end the process.

In S304, the embedded OS will display a confirmation area for confirming permission to connect the terminal apparatus 101 to the access point designated as the connection target access point in a pop-up menu manner on the notification screen displayed by the connection setting app. For example, the SSID of the access point designated as the connection target access point will be displayed on the confirmation area. If the user makes an input on the confirmation area indicating that the terminal apparatus 101 is permitted to connect to the access point, the embedded OS proceeds to S305. On the other hand, if the user makes an input on the confirmation area indicating that the terminal apparatus 101 is not permitted to connect with the access point, the embedded OS will end the processing without establishing a connection between the access point and the terminal apparatus 101. Further, in this case, the embedded OS will notify the connection setup app that a connection could not be established between the terminal device 101 and the access point. Note that at this time, the embedded OS and the connection setting app may display a region where connection between the access point and the terminal apparatus 101 is successfully established. For example, this area is an area including a message prompting the user to bring the terminal apparatus 101 close to an access point arbitrarily selected by the user but not an access point having an SSID displayed on the confirmation screen. This is because the embedded OS will find an access point located closer to the terminal apparatus 101 earlier in the search. For example, it may also be an area including a message prompting the user to disable an access point having an SSID displayed on the confirmation screen. Alternatively, for example, it may be an area including a message prompting the user to connect the terminal apparatus 101 with an access point arbitrarily selected by the user but not having an SSID displayed on the confirmation screen using a setting application corresponding to the embedded OS.

In S305, the embedded OS executes a process of establishing a connection (connection process) between the terminal apparatus 101 and an access point designated as a connection target access point. Note that the connection established by the connection processing is in other words, a connection between the terminal apparatus 101 and the communication apparatus 151 that enables the access point designated as the connection target access point. In S306, the embedded OS transmits the execution result of the connection processing of S305 to the connection setting app. The execution result may include not only status such as success/failure, but also information such as the reason for failure in the case of failure. The connection setting app that received the execution result will display a screen representing the execution result via the display unit 108 serving as a screen of the connection setting app. Execution of the process of fig. 3 will allow a Wi-Fi connection to be established between the terminal apparatus 101 and the connection setup AP in the communication apparatus 151 as described at S206.

< processing of connection setting App >

Fig. 4 shows a flowchart of processing performed by the connection setting app using Wi-Fi in the connection setting processing. The processing of fig. 4 is realized, for example, by the CPU 103 of the terminal apparatus 101 reading a connection setting app from the ROM 104 and executing the connection setting app.

In step S401, the CPU 103 accepts a connection setting processing execution instruction from the user via the screen displayed on the display unit 108 by the connection setting app. This process corresponds to S203.

In step S402, the CPU 103 stores information about an AP (for example, the AP 131) connected to the terminal apparatus 101 upon receiving the execution instruction in the memory using the connection setting app. This process corresponds to S204. Note that if the terminal apparatus 101 is not connected at this time, the process will be omitted.

In step S403, the CPU 103 causes the connection setting app to assign a specific character string to the embedded OS. Then, the CPU 103 instructs the embedded OS to establish a Wi-Fi connection between the terminal apparatus 101 and an access point having an SSID including at least a specific character string. This process corresponds to S302.

In step S404, the CPU 103 causes the connection setting app to determine whether a Wi-Fi connection has been successfully established between the terminal device 101 and an access point having an SSID that satisfies the assignment condition. The SSID satisfying the assignment condition is an SSID including a specific character string. The processing is executed based on the notification of the execution result from the embedded OS. If the CPU is notified from the OS that an access point having an SSID including a specific character string cannot be found, it will be determined that a Wi-Fi connection cannot be established. If it is determined that a Wi-Fi connection cannot be established, the process of FIG. 4 ends. On the other hand, if it is determined that the Wi-Fi connection has been successfully established, the process advances to step S405.

In step S405, the CPU 103 causes the connection setting app to transmit a start command of connection setting processing to the communication device 151 via the established Wi-Fi connection. This process corresponds to S207. Note that, as described above, the start command of the connection setting process plays the role of the AP list request command.

In step S406, the CPU 103 causes the connection setting app to obtain the AP list from the communication device 151 as a response to the command transmitted in step S405. This process corresponds to S208. If the AP list is not received at this time, the process of FIG. 4 may end when an error message is displayed on the display unit 108.

In step S407, the CPU 103 causes the connection setting app to transmit an infrastructure setting command to the communication device 151 through the terminal device 101 via the Wi-Fi connection. This process corresponds to S209. Note that, as described above, the infrastructure setup command includes connection information for connecting the communication device 151 with the connection target access point.

Note that in step S407, the CPU 103 may cause the connection setting app to transmit a P2P setting command. In this case, the CPU 103 will cause the connection setting app to receive connection information for connecting with the communication device 151 operating in the P2P mode from the communication device 151 and use the connection information to instruct the embedded OS to newly establish a Wi-Fi connection between the terminal device 101 and an access point enabled by the communication device 151 operating in the P2P mode. Note that, at this time, the connection setting app may specify, entirely through the connection information, a character string included in the SSID of the access point enabled by the communication device 151 operating in the P2P mode. Therefore, the first connection instruction will be issued to the OS by all the assignment character strings included in the SSID of the access point enabled by the communication apparatus 151 operating in the P2P mode. Accordingly, the Wi-Fi connection between the terminal apparatus 101 and the access point enabled by the communication apparatus 151 operating in the connection setting mode will be disconnected. Subsequently, a Wi-Fi connection is established between the terminal device 101 and the access point enabled by the communication device 151 operating in the P2P mode.

Note that in step S407, it may be arbitrarily determined whether the infrastructure setting command or the P2P setting command is to be transmitted. For example, the user may select which one of the infrastructure connection and the P2P connection is to be established during the operation of accepting the connection setting process execution instruction on the selection screen, and may control to transmit a setting command corresponding to the selected connection. Further, for example, if the terminal apparatus 101 is connected with any one of the access points at the time of accepting the connection setting processing execution instruction, control may be made to transmit the infrastructure setting command. If the terminal apparatus 101 is not connected to any of the access points at the time of accepting the connection setting processing execution instruction, control may be made to transmit the P2P setting command.

In this way, in the present embodiment, each device to be a connection setting processing target by the connection setting app is arranged to include an access point having an SSID including both a character string common to the devices and a character string unique to each device. Further, the connection setting app does not obtain the AP list from the OS. That is, the connection setting app does not search the AP list for an access point having an SSID that includes at least a common character string. Instead, the connection setup app will instruct the OS to search the AP list already obtained by the OS for an access point having an SSID that includes at least the common string. Subsequently, the connection setup app will instruct the OS to establish a connection between the terminal device 101 and an access point having an SSID that includes at least the common string. By setting this mode, it will be possible to establish a connection between the terminal apparatus 101 and an arbitrary access point without obtaining an AP list on the side of the connection setting app. In addition, it is possible to execute extremely convenient connection setting operation that does not require a user to perform cumbersome operation while suppressing a reduction in security relating to connection of each device that is to be a target of connection setting processing.

[ second embodiment ]

The present embodiment will hereinafter describe points different from the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, if the OS does not find an access point having an SSID including a specific character string, the connection setting app will perform polling at predetermined intervals by transmitting an access point search instruction and a connection instruction. Such an arrangement will increase the possibility of completing the connection setting process even if, for example, the start of the operation in the connection setting mode by the communication device 151 is delayed and the OS fails to find an access point having an SSID including a specific character string in the first search operation.

Fig. 5 is a sequence diagram showing a process for searching for the communication apparatus 151 operating in the connection setting mode.

In S501, the embedded OS searches for an access point that can connect with the terminal apparatus 101. The embedded OS stores the access point list (AP list) obtained from the search. The process is similar to the process of S301.

In S502, the connection setting app assigns a specific character string to instruct the embedded OS to establish a connection between the terminal device 101 and an access point having an SSID including the specific character string. The process is similar to the process of S302.

In S503, the embedded OS searches for an access point having an SSID including a specific character string assigned by the connection setting app from the AP list stored in the memory. If an access point having an SSID including a specific character string is found from the search, the embedded OS advances the process to S504. If an access point having an SSID including a specific character string is not found from the search, the embedded OS advances the process to S508.

In S504, the embedded OS displays an area for the user to confirm whether the terminal apparatus 101 can connect to the access point found from the list by the search performed in S503 via the display unit 108. The process is similar to the process of S304.

In S505, the embedded OS performs processing (connection processing) to establish a connection between the terminal apparatus 101 and an access point found from the list by the search performed in S503. The process is similar to the process of S305. In S506, the embedded OS transmits the execution result of the connection processing of S505 to the connection setting app. The execution result at this time may include not only the status such as success/failure, but also information such as the reason of failure in the case of failure. The connection setting app that received the execution result will display a screen representing the execution result via the display unit 108 serving as a screen of the connection setting app. The process is similar to the process of S306. Subsequently, as described in S206, a Wi-Fi connection is established between the terminal apparatus 101 and the connection setup AP in the communication apparatus 151.

On the other hand, in S508, the embedded OS transmits a notification indicating that an error has occurred because the SSID was not found to the connection setting app. In S509, the connection setting app that received the error notification from the embedded OS is set to a sleep state for a predetermined time. After the predetermined time has elapsed and the sleep state is canceled, the process is repeated again from S502. In S510, the embedded OS executes the processing similar to that of S501 again. That is, the embedded OS will search for an access point that can connect with the communication device 151 and store the result in the memory. This process is performed while the connection setting app is in the sleep state.

In this way, according to the present embodiment, if the OS fails to find an access point having an SSID including a specific character string, the connection setting app will perform polling at predetermined intervals. Therefore, the possibility of completing the connection setting process can be increased.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

The embodiments of the present invention can also be realized by a method in which software (programs) that perform the functions of the above-described embodiments are supplied to a system or an apparatus through a network or various storage media, and a computer or a Central Processing Unit (CPU), a Micro Processing Unit (MPU) of the system or the apparatus reads out and executes the methods of the programs.

While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of the following claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent structures and functions.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus including a predetermined program and an operating system different from the predetermined program, the information processing apparatus comprising:

an instruction unit configured to execute, on the operating system, an instruction for connecting the information processing apparatus with a communication apparatus that enables a predetermined access point having identification information including both the specific character string and a character string other than the specific character string by notifying the specific character string to the operating system; and

a communication unit configured to, when a connection is established between the information processing apparatus and a communication apparatus that enables a predetermined access point, transfer information about another access point different from the predetermined access point via a connection between the information processing apparatus and the communication apparatus that enables the predetermined access point.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined program executes the instruction on the operating system without obtaining, from the operating system, information that is searched by the operating system and is about one or more access points that can connect with the information processing apparatus.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operating system searches for one or more access points that can connect with the information processing apparatus,

in the case where the instruction has been executed on the operating system, the operating system searches for the predetermined access point from among one or more access points that the operating system has discovered and that are connectable with the information processing apparatus, and

in a case where the predetermined access point is found, the operating system performs a process of connecting the information processing apparatus with a communication apparatus that enables the predetermined access point.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein in a case where a plurality of predetermined access points are included in the one or more access points that are discovered by the operating system and that are connectable with the information processing apparatus, the operating system performs a process of connecting the information processing apparatus with a communication apparatus that enables one of the plurality of predetermined access points.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein one of the plurality of predetermined access points is an access point that is first discovered by the operating system in search among the plurality of predetermined access points.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, the information processing apparatus further comprising:

an information display unit configured to display information on one of a plurality of predetermined access points in a case where the plurality of predetermined access points are included in the one or more access points discovered by the operating system and connectable with the information processing apparatus,

wherein, in a case where an input for allowing a connection between the information processing apparatus and a communication apparatus that enables a predetermined access point corresponding to display information is accepted from a user, the operating system performs a process of connecting the information processing apparatus and the communication apparatus that enables the predetermined access point corresponding to display information, and

the operating system does not perform a process of connecting the information processing apparatus with the communication apparatus that enables the predetermined access point corresponding to the display information without accepting an input from a user to allow a connection between the information processing apparatus and the communication apparatus that enables the predetermined access point corresponding to the display information.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein a notification screen for notifying a user is displayed without accepting an input from a user for allowing a connection between the information processing apparatus and the communication apparatus that enables a predetermined access point corresponding to display information.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the notification screen is at least one of: a screen for prompting a user to bring the information processing apparatus and a communication apparatus that enables an access point different from a predetermined access point corresponding to display information closer to each other, a screen for prompting a user to disable a predetermined access point corresponding to display information, and a screen for prompting a user to connect the information processing apparatus and the communication apparatus that enables an access point different from a predetermined access point corresponding to display information using a predetermined program of a setup application corresponding to the operating system.

9. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, the information processing apparatus further comprising:

a notification unit configured to notify, in a case where the predetermined access point is not included in the one or more access points discovered by the operating system and connectable with the information processing apparatus, a fact that a connection cannot be established between the information processing apparatus and the predetermined access point.

10. The information processing apparatus according to claim 3, the information processing apparatus further comprising:

an execution unit configured to execute the instruction again on the operating system after the one or more access points that can be connected with the information processing apparatus are searched again by the operating system in a case where the predetermined access point is not included in the one or more access points that are discovered by the operating system and that can be connected with the information processing apparatus.

11. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the other access point is an external access point located outside the information processing apparatus and located outside the communication apparatus,

transmitting information about the other access point from the information processing apparatus to the communication apparatus, and

in a case where the information on the other access point is transmitted to the communication apparatus, the communication apparatus performs a process of connecting with the other access point.

12. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the instruction is executed on the operating system in a case where a predetermined operation is performed on the information processing apparatus, and

the other access point is an external access point that is connected to the information processing apparatus when the predetermined operation is performed on the information processing apparatus.

13. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the other access point is an access point selected by a user from one or more external access points.

14. The information processing apparatus according to claim 11, the information processing apparatus further comprising:

an obtaining unit configured to obtain, from the communication apparatus, information on one or more external access points connectable to the communication apparatus via a connection between the information processing apparatus and the communication apparatus with the predetermined access point enabled; and

a display unit configured to display a selection screen configured to allow a user to select at least one of the one or more external access points connectable with the communication apparatus,

wherein the other access points are access points selected by a user from the one or more external access points to which the communication device is connectable.

15. The information processing apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the instruction is executed on the operating system in a case where a predetermined operation is performed on the information processing apparatus,

in a case where the one or more external access points connectable with the communication apparatus include an access point connected with the information processing apparatus when the predetermined operation is performed on the information processing apparatus, the other access point is an access point connected with the information processing apparatus when the predetermined operation is performed on the information processing apparatus, and

in a case where the one or more external access points connectable with the communication apparatus do not include an access point connected with the information processing apparatus when the predetermined operation is performed on the information processing apparatus, the selection screen will be displayed and the other access point will be an access point selected by the user from the one or more external access points connectable with the communication apparatus.

16. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the instruction is executed on the operating system in a case where a predetermined operation is performed on the information processing apparatus,

in a case where the information processing apparatus is not connected to the other access point while the predetermined operation is performed, the other access point is an access point enabled by the communication apparatus,

transmitting information on the other access point from the communication apparatus to the information processing apparatus, and

in the case of transmitting information about the other access point to the information processing apparatus, an instruction to connect the information processing apparatus with the communication apparatus that enables the other access point will be executed on the operating system.

17. The information processing apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the instruction to connect the information processing apparatus with the communication apparatus that enables the other access point is executed by notifying a specific character string included in the information on the other access point, and

the other access point has identification information including the specific character string but not including character strings other than the specific character string.

18. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, the information processing apparatus further comprising:

a transmission unit configured to transmit a print job to perform printing to the communication apparatus via the other access point.

19. A control method of an information processing apparatus including a predetermined program and an operating system different from the predetermined program, the control method comprising:

executing, on the operating system, an instruction for connecting the information processing apparatus with a communication apparatus that enables a predetermined access point having identification information including both the specific character string and a character string other than the specific character string, by notifying the operating system of the specific character string; and

when a connection is established between the information processing apparatus and a communication apparatus that enables a predetermined access point, information on another access point different from the predetermined access point is transferred via the connection between the information processing apparatus and the communication apparatus that enables the predetermined access point.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program that causes a computer of an information processing apparatus having an operating system to execute a program